The Internet is buzzing about a new breed of marijuana that apparently causes no buzz of its own. Israeli researchers have bred cannabis plants that look, smell and taste like ordinary marijuana — but lack THC, the active ingredient responsible for the spacy, giddy and sometimes hallucinatory part of pot’s high.

What’s the point of weed that doesn’t get you high, you ask? The new product could potentially fight conditions ranging from schizophrenia to Alzheimer’s disease.

The new marijuana isn’t just low-THC ditch weed or hemp by a different name. Tzahi Klein of the Israeli company Tikkun Olam and his colleagues have created a strain of pot that lacks THC but is abundant in cannabidiol (CBD), typically the second most common active compound in cannabis.

“It has the same scent, shape and taste as the original plant — it’s all the same — but the numbing sensation that users are accustomed to has disappeared,” Klein told the Israeli paper Maariv. He said that many patients in his studies felt “tricked” because they thought they’d been given a placebo when they smoked it.

But while CBD doesn’t lead to the “munchies,” hallucinations or other effects commonly felt by marijuana users, it’s far from inert. As I reported last week, a preliminary trial of CBD for the treatment of people with schizophrenia found that it was as effective as a standard antipsychotic drug — with none of the movement disorders, mood issues or weight gain linked to that class of medications.

CBD also seems to protect brain cells from damage, so much so that it is currently being studied as a way to stop the progression of the movement disorder Huntington’s disease, which is caused by degeneration of nerve cells in certain parts of the brain. CBD’s neuroprotective property has also been shown to fight Alzheimer’s disease progression in animal models — though human research has yet to be done — and to reduce seizures.

Further, the compound has anxiety-reducing effects, which may be responsible for making some types of marijuana seem mellower than others. Shorn of THC, marijuana containing CBD might be useful as an anti-anxiety medication or antidepressant. And because it doesn’t produce a noticeable high or impairment, it wouldn’t carry the risks associated with current anti-anxiety drugs like Xanax.

All of this means that the new plant could have huge potential — if its development isn’t stymied by the fact that its ingredients can’t be patented (that means less profit for drug companies) or by the politics of the drug war. Two big ifs.

Here’s hoping that this type of medical marijuana is made available to researchers for further study and then to countries and states where it is legal for compassionate access. Patenting and political roadblocks mean it may be a long time before a synthetic version of CBD hits the market, but many questions about its safety and efficacy could be answered far more quickly.

Until now, it hasn’t been possible to get CBD from smoking marijuana without the simultaneous and possibly counterproductive exposure to THC. The new plant could change that — and perhaps shift the medical marijuana debate as well. While THC will remain essential for some medical marijuana patients — to increase appetite, for example — the non-impairing version of marijuana with CBD could help many others, without inducing the pleasure-producing properties that cause so much unending controversy.

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Anyone who has ever dabbed high potency CBD oil can attest that CBD is also a Euphorant and although it does not affect our realities such as THC, there is still a change in our sensory mechanisms.

Does anyone else find it interesting that this article or author didn't specify if these Israeli cultivators are going to share their strains abroad, or hold them tight like Realm of Caring for the maximum profit margin? Soldiers and athletes everywhere need CBD oil to help with PTSD and concussions and quite frankly, we can grow this stuff ourselves, and have been: R14 derivatives, Cannatonic, SharkShock, Harlequin all are circulating freely in our medical community.

THC for any non-canna informed, does not give you a "spacey", hallucinatory experience once you step through the looking glass and build up your tolerance. It's actually quite grounding and centering. It's the human ego that pushes itself in to the experience and creates dissonance known as paranoia.

This would do wonders for me. I was hit by a car when I was 16, leaving me with a broken clavicle that never healed right. Since then, I have really bad episodes of aches and pain on the left side of my neck and shoulder. Standard pain killers like VICODIN have had more a detrimental affect to my mind and body than being a cure. I've actually had respiratory problems due to heavy pain killers. I used to inhale, and when I did, it did alleviate a lot of the pain ( probably because marijuana can serve as an anti- inflammatory) so I know it has worked for me. The problem now is that I don't like being high but NEED the benefits of marijuana and do not want to become dependent on traditional pain killers that I can't afford and have made me sick. I'm in Los Angeles and medical marijuana dispensaries are in abundance here; its about time that they offer something like this to potential patients like me who are not just interested in getting a high, but would be able to live a pain free life.

I find the most annoying thing about those against Medical Marijuana (MM) who say "there's not enough research" is that they fight to make sure there will BE no research. As long as this and two generations of previous administrations continue to classify marijuana as a Class I drug, it will be almost impossible to obtain or do tests.

There ARE reputable organizations that call for more research and mean it, but an example of the political groups that use this "not enough research" as a way of opposing Medical Marijuana is the Adolescent Substance Abuse Program at Children's Hospital Boston, which says "The AAP strongly supports more cannabinoid research to better
understand both how these substances can be used therapeutically as well
as their potential side effects—which we may well be
underestimating ... [But] the AAP does not support 'medical marijuana'
laws as they circumvent regulations put in place to protect patients,
and children are a particularly vulnerable population." (Source: Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte%27s_Web_%28cannabis%29). Note the reasoning that says we should be against MM simply because it circumvents existing laws. In other words, the fact that MM changes our existing laws is itself a reason to not support it. That would mean that if we found the MM reduced or eliminated certain severe forms of epilepsy we shouldn't support it simply because it would change today's laws, and not because it would be bad in and of itself! The law is the law and can't be changed because laws shouldn't be changed?

Someday America will be mature enough to have a reasonable discussion on our entire drug policy: it's success or failure, what it would mean both positive and negative if we completely decriminalize most drugs, etc. Right now we can't even have a fact-based discussion on Medical Marijuana, as witness certain comments on this blog.

I suffer from constant, almost daily nausea and recently while on a trip to a state where medical marijuana is legal, I took several puffs (and yes I did inhale) of this medical marijuana specially being grown to treat seizures. Within minutes, my nausea was totally gone! Yet I did not feel "high" at all. I felt calm and had zero nausea. The effects lasted almost all day, for at least 8 hours. IT was amazing, and I wish I had this particular marijuana on hand for when the nausea comes on me. I wish it was legal in all states. And I wish it was available to my adult child who has suffered from schizophrenia for almost 20 years. It does not get you high, nor is there any side affects what so ever. I felt calm, nausea free and physically well, better than I had felt in a year.

I don't know why anyone would want to remove pleasure producing properties. Who's to say THC and CBD shouldn't work together? I trust in the design of the plant, and believe all its interrelations need study before we divide and conquer its chemical makeup.

@MichaelWickler I agree with this, especially when you have products that were only THC or synthetic THC, and those people were going crazy, only overdoses on a Marijuana product we've had were Marinol. So like many others who aren't ignorant about the plant, I believe the chemicals have a synergistic quality.

@ZavierMcFall-Maycock@MichaelWickler THC and CBD are both isomers which means the same molecules except arranged differently in 3 dimensions. My research suggests they actually work against each other, so those who want a traditional or super-high do best with very high THC and low CBD, which most but not all medical marijuana patients would do best with the opposite. Please refer to my reply to MichaelWickler above.

I hope this clarifies things. If you disagree with what I found in my research I'd love to learn the details including sources.

@MichaelWickler Those of us who use Medical Marijuana quite often want something that helps their problem without making them high, and frankly I believe with more information on this issue most people needing MM would switch from high to low THC.

My case is probably typical. I've had two major surgeries on my neck resulting in C3-C7 disks being fused. The result is daily headaches, sometimes quite bearable but most requiring large amounts of narcotics, which really don't work well for this type of pain and of course have other downsides. When my headaches are really bad I want another solution, and low-THC high-CBD marijuana is almost perfect. Within 2 minutes I get a lot of relief without becoming stoned.

The stuff I use is Cannatonic, which currently has 5.11% THC and a whopping 13.38% CBD. Because there is still a lot of THC I still can't drive, but I can write, do household chores, spend conscious time with my wife talking coherently, and so forth. There are other forms of Medical Marijuana like Charlotte's Web (virtually no THC and all CBD) available in Colorado. Go to Realm of Caring (http://theroc.us/) for more information on this variety. produced by the Stanley Brothers. Another source of low-THC high CBD marijuana is Barneys Farm (http://www.barneysfarmshop.com/barneys-farm-seeds/medical-seeds/high-cbd-low-thc.html)

I readily admit that low-THC high CBD marijuana is not for all Medical Marijuana patients. For example, if you have no hunger during chemotherapy, you need the "munchies" effect of high THC. Also, I use "normal" or even high-THC marijuana when I want to get to sleep but my pain is keeping me up.

@MichaelWickler There is this persistent theme of 'removing the high.' What is with the vilification of an altered, non-harmful state? The way I see it, the ordinary day to day 'collective conscious' we all subscribe to is but a microcosm of my life experience. Why would I cheat myself of the infinite 'other' ways to experience life. Plus, I totally agree that the cannabinoids work together. This THC-free marijuana is for the birds.

@crdavis54@chictyler To be fair a scientist in Israel discovered THC in 1964, Dr. Raphael Mechoulam.

There isn't proof that "THC cures cancer" this has just been ignorant people reading it wrong (and I do just want to get high, its no worse than people drinking and that's legal, especially if you don't smoke it, and vape or eat it). What there is evidence of is that cannabis has some cancer fighting properties when it comes to certain cancers, and might be able to fight tumors because it induces cell death and inhibits cell growth in the tumor. It's mainly cbd that they found correlated to this, the thc is awesome for eating disorders (anorexia, personal experience, its even used to treat it in my state, doesn't help the image issues, you need a therapist for that, but it does make you eat and want to eat) and cancer patients on chemo though, its not like its useless medicinally. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/cannabis/healthprofessional/page4

@chictyler With all due respect, you don't have a clue what you are talking about. THC is important for certain conditions but the lack of it does not cause cancer. The evidence and scientific studies that have been done lately prove that.

@chictyler I do not mean to offend you, but you are incorrect. I would like to know where you got this misinformation. I've researched a great many informational websites including Wikipedia. Not only do they that THC is the component most likely to be carcinogenic, but that most medical benefits come from CBD. For me, using low-THC high-CBD medical marijuana gives me tremendous pain relief within 2 minutes without leaving me so stoned I can't write Ijust finished my 1st SF novel), talk coherently, or even stay alert.

@chictyler Israel has been researching this since the 1970"s, probably longer than you have been on this planet. They have been using this particular modified strain, high in cbd in treatments for seizures, and certain degenerative nerve cell diseases such as MS. CNN did a wonderful special report on this exact strain of pot. Chic unless you are a chemist/scientist and have first hand long term studies to back up your statement, then it sounds to me you just want pot to get high.

@crdavis54@chictyler What's wrong with wanting to be high? No one is beating down wine lovers for their buzz. Why is my 'fun' any different (except for less harmful, makes me less prone to violence, less addictive...yeah)

Thank you for writing this article, I have first hand knowledge that marijuana high in cbd's acts as an anti-anxiety drug. I suffer from both anxiety and depression and I use a strain superrich in cbd's (Harlequin) to control both. The Harlequin completely eliminates all anxiety and lessens the depression enough for me to get through the day in as close to a normal manner as is humanly possible. I'd recommend it for any one who suffers from anxiety, depression and other mental health issues. Remember, all drugs have side effects, only with herbs, unlike pharmaceuticals, it is almost always good. :)

Marijuana works very well for pain management. Unless someone has tried cannabis for pain, they should not venture the opinion that it doesn't work for medical purposes. Pain management with cannabis requires the right dosage. Using marijuana edibles is the right way to maintain pain reduction. This book has great recipes for edible marijuana that are easy, small and cheap to make: MARIJUANA - Guide to Buying, Growing, Harvesting, and Making Medical Marijuana Oil and Delicious Candies to Treat Pain and Ailments by Mary Bendis, Second Edition. Only 2.99. Learn to make marijuana oil, delicious Cannabis Chocolates, and tasty Dragon Teeth Mints. goo.gl/iYjPn goo.gl/Jfs61